Automatic train-pipe coupling.



No. 862,068. I PATENTED JULY 30, 1907.

Y J. B. GENIN. AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE COUPLING.

APPLIOLTIOH FILED SEPT. 22, 906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1- N Q 1 i PATENTED JULY 30, 1907.

- J. B. GENIN. AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED SEPTJI, 1906.

a Sums-sum 2.

PATBNTBD JULY 30, 1907.

I. B. GENIN. AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22, 906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JEAN B. GENIN, OF ST. ALBANS, VERMONT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-EIGHTH TO LEON LOUIS GAI L- LOUX, OF MONTREAL, CANADA, AND ONE-EIGHTH TO E. M. BLAKE, ONE-SIXTEEN'TH TO CHESTER W. BUTTERWORTH, AND ONE-SIXTEENTH TO ALVAH H. GEORGE, OF ST.

vALBAN S, VERMONT.

No. scenes.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN-PIPE COUPLING.

Patented July 30, 1907.

Application filed September 22, 1906. Serial lo- 335,843.

pled. Such devices known to me are provided with.

v means, usually, inclined cheeks extending from perpendicular sides, that meet and engage opposite sides of the other head and cause both heads or main portions to assume and hold certain set positions with respect to each other. When the heads are thus positioned, one or more openings in one head registenwith similar openings in the other head, thereby rendering'continuous, from car to car, pipes for transmitting steam, com- I pressed air for brakes, and compressed air for signaling the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2.

purposes, and the like. In such couplers with which I am acquainted, the meeting openings in the heads are finishcd with rings or projecting hollow tubular bodies of rubber or packing. These rubber terminals detericrate more or less rapidly from age, exposure, and the repeated forcible contacts with each other when the cars are coupled, and the object of my invention is to supplant those yielding mouths with metal equivalents, and to produce associated parts having particular construction and special arrangement whereby it is found that themetal terminals perform every pipecoupling ofiice of those made of rubber, in the same or in a superior manner, while being very much more durable.

I accomplish the object set forth by fashioning and arranging the parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, of which i Figure 1 represents a side view of all parts assembled, and shows two couplers about to unite. Fig. 2 is a front view of the face or root 'of either head. Fig. 3 is a fiagmentary side view of either head taken at in Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section of one of the heads. Figsf5 and 6 are, respectively, a plan view and a side view of the hoseconnections plate detached. Fig. 7 is a face view of the slotted socket plates that engage the end portions of the stems or shanks of the couplers, and Fig. 8 is an explanatory sectional view of two pipe terminals tilted in their seats but still preserving their proper apcrtural coincidence.

Like reference numerals are used to designate the same parts throughout the specification and. drawings.

Both coupler heads and attachments are alike, and the following description may relate to either.

From a'drawbar 1 of a car there is suspended a suitable spring-metal, curved bracket 2 secured to the drawbar. Through the lower end of the bracket is passed the end of the stem or shank 3 of the coupler, the end thus passed through the bracket being marked 4, and having a cross'section of the form of the slot illustrated in Fig. 7, as being formed through a socket plate 5. The slot is designated by numeral 6. As shown in Fig. 1 the socket plate 5 is riveted to the face of the lower end of the bracket, and the end 4 of the stem 3 movably engages thecorrespondingly shaped slot 6 and is thus prevented from rotating, but may move back and forth lengthwise. Some vertical and lateral play due to the movements of the cars is unavoidable. The little play provided for by the spring bracket is multiplied at the outer end of the coupler, affording all the movement necessary to the proper flexibility oi the system. Against the face of the lr wer end of bracket 2 opposite to that bearing the socket plate, there is placed a washer 7, and a nut 8 engages the-threaded extremity of the stem. The end 4 of the stem having the peculiar crow-section stated, extends from the threaded extremity to the shoulder designated by numeral 9. At the other end of stem 3 there is a fork 10, either integrally formed or rigidly connected with the stem, and a shoulder 11 is made where the base of the fork joins the shim. Against shoulder 11 rests a spring seat or washer 12, anda like seat 13 rests against the socket plate near the bracket as shown in Fig. 1. The stem passes movably through both seats, and through the helical spring 14 located between the seats with its ends engaging them.

The legs of the fork 10 merge integrally into the head 15, which consists of a plate arranged in such manner that one diagonal is vertical, therefore, the plane of the fork, being parallel to the sides of the plate, will be inclined as indicated by broken lines in Fig. 2, and the engagement of the shouldered end 4 of the stem 3 with the slot of the socket plate 5 maintains that inclination.

Considering Figs. 1, 2 and 3, it will be noted that the heads 15 are each provided with the two inclines or cheeks l6 and 17,arranged at opposite edges, and at the 17 of one head engage those edges of the other head that are not provided with cheeks, and that the two heads are thus guided towards each other until each head closely but movably receives the other head between its perpendicular walls 18, the bumper blocks 19 and 20 taking up the greater part of the shock of meeting, ar 1 both heads being held movably but positively in the certain set position intended.

By inspecting Figs. 2 and 4, it will be seen that the head 15 possesses along the vertical diagonal line, three orifices marked 21, referring to the upper one, 22 for the middle, and 23 for the lower orifice. Each orifice is crossed by a bar 24 formed integrally with the head.

A portion of each of the orifices mentioned is ground to form a partly spherical seat. The seat in orifice 21 is designated 25, that in orifice 22 is referred to by number 26, and that in the lower orifice by number 27. The cross-bars 24 in each orifice are located at the bottom or at the rear face of the head 15. In each seat is movably nested a pipecoupling terminal. There are three of them shown and marked from upper to lower, 28, 29 and 30. Each is provided with a ground and partly spherical end which engages the seat making a gas tight ball joint. The ground or ball ends of the terminals have the reference numbers, from upper to lower, 31, 32 and 33, and each terminal is fashioned with an integral cross-bar 34 located at its inner opening. The terminals are held movably to their seats by the bolts 35, encircled by coil springs 36, and the springs are confined between thenross-bars 34 of the terminals and the washers 37, and nut 38. Bolts 35 pass through the cross-bars 24 and 34 of the orifices and terminals, and it will be observed in Fig. 4 that the bolt holes 39 and 40 through those cross-bars are slightly larger than the bolts in diameter, and, consequently,-

permit the bolts to move within them.

0n the rear surface of the head, the months of the orifices 21, 22 and 23, register with the hose-connections 41, 42 and 43, formed integrally with the plate 44, and in Fig. 1 the plate is shown in its normal position against the rear of head 15. The position of plate 44 is also indicated by broken lines on-Fig. 2. Figs. 5 and 6 are a face view and side view of the hose-connections plate 44, and in Fig. 5a number of screw holes 45 are shown which register with corresponding screw or rivet holes 46 in the head 15, an best shown in Fig. 2, and it is by means of those holes that the plate 44 is firmly secured to the rear of the head.

- the hose of water of condensation.

The operation of my invention is best discernible from Fig. 1. It will be noted that the heads 15, when the cars are coupled, come together a little before the car-couplers 49 engage each other, and, therefore, when the heads do meet and engage, the springs 14 are in a measure compressed, and remain compressed while the cars are coupled, thus holding the heads firmly but movably together. As described, the spring brackets 2 permit any desired play of the heads to conform to the movements of the cars together or with respect are engaged as described, their encounter is by no means always truly face to face with the axes of the stems 3 in alinement. One car may be lower than another, or one head may have momentarily swung to one side or the other of its companion head. But,

site heads as explained, the two hands are always brought accurately together, and the terminals 31, 32 and 33, come directly in contact, but, without taking up the whole shock of the meeting, a part of which is borne by the bumper blocks 19 and 20 as explained. Should any terminal have been slightly displaced in its seat, the contact with its associate terminal will seat it evenly. After coming together, the terminals are held yieldingly in contact by'reason of the compression of the springs l4'already described, But, although the heads engage each other, they are still slightly movable with respect toeach other as the cars proceed, this relative movement being occasioned by inequalities of the roadbed or curves in the track. As

also affected, but the terminals may rock in their in any direction and thus preserve unbroken their istering one with the other.v This attitude of the terminals with respect to each other and 'to their respective seats is illustrated in the explanatory Fig. 8.

Having now described my invention and explained the mode of its operation, what 'I claim is V 1. In an automatic train pipe coupler, the combination with the heads, of guiding and engaging devices borne by the heads whereby they are directed together, 'the said heads having vertical series of orifices and spherical seats formed within-the sald orlflces,-plpecoupling terminals constructed to fit the said seats in the orifices, the said terminals being separable, tubular bodies, devices adapted to hold said terminals to their seats and movnble thereln, and bumper blocks borne by the heads and arranged to come together colncldently with the meeting or the sald terminals to take part of the shock.

2. In an automatic train pipe coupler, the combination with the heads, of guiding and engaglng devices borne by the heads whereby they are directed together the sold bends having vertical wrlcs of orifices and spherical seat: l formed within the said orifices, plpe-coupllng terminals i constructed to lit the said seats in the orifices, the said adapted to hold said terminals to their seats and movable therein, and bumper blocks borne by the heads and arranged to come together 'coincidently with the meeting of 'the said terminals to take part of the shock.

3, In an automatic train pipe coupler, the comblnatlon with the heads, of guldfngandcngnglng devices borne by the heads whereby they are directed together, the said hmds having a vertical series or orifices and spherical seat! tormedwlthin the mid orifices, plpe-coupllng termito each other. When the heads 15 come together and the heads n 'ove upon each other, the terminals are terminals being separable, tubular, metal bodies, devices.

when the cheeks 18 and 17 engage the edges of oppooriginalgas tight connection with their openings reg aazQoes nais constructed to tit the said seats in the orifices, the said terminals being separable, tubular bodies, and clamplug bolts and springs arranged axially with respect to the said terminals and the orifices in the heads and adapted to hold the said terminals to their seats and movable therein.

4. In a pipe-coupler, the combination with the heads, of guiding and engaging devices borne by the heads whereby they are directed together and held' against displacement sidewise when in contact with each other, separable hoseconnections plates secured to the said heads, the said heads having a vertical series of orlflcestregisteriug with the hose connections of the said plates, the said orifices having seats formed within them, and pipe-coupling terminals movabiy connected with the said heads and constructed to fit the said seats in the orifices.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presedce of two witnesses.

IEAN B. GENIN.

Witnesses:

. S. OLIVIA Moons,

RICHARD C. Banmomz'. 

